Cops slapped me, asked me to strip: Bidar rape victim

In yet another case, a woman who tried to file a rape complaint in Bidar has accused the cops of humiliating her, by first asking her to strip and later fetching lunch for the man she accused of raping her. 

 

Bhagya (name changed), a widow working as an Anganwadi worker, has alleged that the Aurad police station circle inspector in Bidar, Ade Banappa, forced her to strip and show any injuries she suffered during her rape.

 

Adding to the horror, Bhagya said, was that the woman police inspector, Mallamma, who was asked to investigate the case. The victim alleged that Mallamma slapped her when she questioned the cop about the delay in conducting a medical examination.

 

 

As per Bhagya's account, On December 26, 2016, at 11 pm, a lady and two men approached Bhagya at her house in Aurad, seeking assistance in a child delivery at a nearby village. 

 

Without fearing for her safety she boarded an auto which the accused persons had got with them. After travelling a short distance, the other lady in the auto got down and the men in the auto took Bhagya to a desolate place and raped her. 

 

The victim said she fell unconscious at the time. The next day she went to a local hospital, but the doctor there sent her to the Taluk hospital at Aurad. Meanwhile the police was informed.

 

Police inspector Ave Banappa, the victim alleged, had come to take details about the case. Instead of doing his duty, the victim said he forced her to strip to show any injuries. 

 

"As per the rules, in such case, only an officer of Deputy Superintendent of Police rank is authorised in investigate. But the manner in which Banappa acted shows he wanted to sabotage the case. He should have informed his seniors, but he asked Mallamma, a woman circle inspector, to take details," said KS Lakshmi, Vice President, Janavadi Mahila Sangha.

 

"After we protested before the Deputy Commissioners office, Ava Banappa was suspended as he was also involved in a marijuana case as well. Three of the accused have been arrested. Based on the information, a few more have to arrested," she said.

 

 

Sources say there was a family dispute between Bhagya and her sister, as her sister wanted the Anganwadi job Bhagya had. Bhagya, who has a daughter to look after, was not willing to give up the job for her sister and hence there were regular fights. 

 

"This rivalry may have ended up in the alleged rape of the victim. The FIR also figures her sister's name. However only a through investigation can give a clear picture of what happened on December 26 and who are the other partners in this crime," said a source.

 

The DySP of Humnabad, Chandrakanth Pujar, who is currently investigating the case confirmed the rape case and the charges against police officers for humiliating the victim. He said the matter was under investigation.